On 26 June 2024, Ms. Rujikorn Saengchantr, Acting Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs and Thailand’s SOM Leader for Mekong Cooperation, led the Thai delegation to attend the Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS Senior Officials’ Meeting: ACMECS SOM) in Bangkok. The Meeting was attended by Senior Officials and representatives of ACMECS Member Countries, namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Meeting, which was organised by Thailand in the capacity of the host of the ACMECS Interim Secretariat and chaired by Mr. Somboun Syhanath, Director General of Economic Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR as the current chair of ACMECS, has reviewed the implementation of ACMECS Master Plan (2019-2023) and discussed the drafting of the new Master Plan. The Meeting also discussed the preparation for the 10th ACMECS Summit, which is planned to be held towards the end of this year. In addition, the Meeting has followed up on the progress of the ACMECS Interim Secretariat as well as acknowledged the upcoming launching ceremony of the ACMECS logo and website which will be held in July 2024 in Bangkok.

The ACMECS is a Mekong sub-regional cooperation framework initiated by Thailand in 2003 to enhance competitiveness, economic growth and job opportunities as well as reduce economic development gaps among five Member Countries, namely, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. ACMECS also promotes constructive engagement with six development partners, namely, Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States.